10 Things I Learnt While Living In A Caravan

Holly Blackmore

For the past two months or so, I’ve been residing inside a stationary caravan, a mere 200 metres from the beach. At the beginning this seemed like a dream - a place all to myself, by the sea - it soon turned into a beautiful nightmare. These are the ten things that I have learnt from my time in very (very) cheap accomodation.

1. You really don’t need much to survive. In fact, there is a certain beauty in a minimalist/ascetic lifestyle. I was genuinely sad to leave the van & its simplicity behind.

2. But - the novelty soon wears off. Having to collect water from the tap outside, and jamming windows shut with pieces of wood, does become tiresome. Not long after this, it becomes an all-consuming way of life.

3. There will always be lonely moments, no matter how happy you are. I’ve never been as happy as I was during my first month in the van. I would sing out loud and swing the bucket above my head as I walked down the driveway. Yet there were always quiet moments in the evening - particularly around dinner-time - when a CD hastily shoved into its player was the only way to soften my solitude.

4. Time sure flies when you’re having (mostly) fun. Two months felt like two weeks amidst all of the work, exploration & visits from family/friends.

5. It appears almost impossible to work out a suitable drainage system for immobile caravans. As you can imagine, there isn’t really anywhere for the water to go after it gets flushed down the sink. (Ps, this might be a niche in the market).

6. There is something life-altering about living beside the ocean - and I’m talking walking distance from the waves. I honestly don’t think that I’ll ever be able to live in a non-sea-side suburb again.

7. Bugs will take advantage of your space. It took me five weeks, countless ants and one too many roaches to realise that I actually needed to clean. Who thought sweeping was seriously a thing? Turns out the door of the van didn’t quite close flush either, so critters could enter whether I liked it or not. Cue frenzy.

8. This is when you will learn the most about yourself. When it’s the early hours of the morning, you haven’t slept a wink, sweating under numerous blankets but too frightened to push them aside. Fear of the unknown, of infiltration, of what might be lurking once the light is switched on. Forcing yourself to eat despite feeling nauseous for days on end. A coming of age, in the most difficult of ways.

9. Nobody is out to get you. People don’t give a shit about a young girl living by herself. What I mean is that nothing was stolen, I wasn’t hurt, not a single person bothered me at all. Two of my windows could be opened from the outside and my ‘front door’ was fastened with a $10 padlock. Had no trouble whatsoever.

10. There is no greater feeling than sleeping in a proper bed. It can be all too easy to take this privilege for granted. After weeks on the van’s ‘built in’ cushions, a real mattress literally feels like a slice of heaven.